A Welsh brass band celebrated their “greatest ever achievement” at the weekend, after claiming first prize at the most prestigious brass band contest in the world.

The Tredegar Town Band, conducted by Ian Porthouse, claimed the £3,000 first prize of the British Open Brass Band Championship and the Gold Shield trophy for the second time in four years.

The clincher was their stunning performance of the test piece entitled Arabian Nights – based on the music from Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

More than 2,500 people saw history being made at the championships.

For the first time in the 161-year history of the British Open Brass Band Championship, two Welsh bands topped the table.

President of the band, Iwan Fox, said: “It’s the view of three adjudicators. They can’t see the band’s performance but only listen to it.

“All the bands play one piece of music and it is the best out of those who win. One of the adjudicators said it was absolutely incredible.”

One of the three adjudicators happened to be the composer of the piece performed.

Mr Fox added: “He said he was overcome by how well we played it and said it was ‘unbelievable playing’.”

The band also made history by making it a clean sweep of all the individual solo awards.

Principal cornet Dewi Griffiths, who can be seen as one of the ceremonial fanfare trumpeters at the National Eisteddfod of Wales each year, claimed the Best Soloist Award.

Mr Fox said: “Even though there has been a reduction in funding from local authorities, bands stepped into the breach and used their identities to reach out within their communities.

“It’s also about showing the young people that it’s exciting, a skill and a talent.”

It might be assumed the majority of brass band members are older members of the community, by Mr Fox has stressed this is the complete opposite.

He said: “Thirty players usually play on stage and the age range of them is about 18 to 52 – but the average age of a performer is roughly between 23 and 24. Brass bands have become younger and that’s a good thing.

“It shows the where next generation of players are coming from – a lot of them then go on the become music teachers or go on to have a career in music.”

Alongside the Tredegar Band, the Cory Band from Ton Pentre in the Rhondda was placed second in a contest that saw the Welsh duo thrash the competition.

The band beat off the challenge of 15 other rivals, including such famous names as Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick, Foden’s and Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

Mr Fox is overjoyed at the increased prestige of Welsh bands.

He said: “Never before have Welsh bands enjoyed such success – with Tredegar and Cory bands now winning the contest twice each in the past five years.

“Wales is now regarded as one of the strongest brass banding nations in the world at all competitive levels from youth to the top premiere events.

“Bands such as Tredegar, Cory and Beaumaris have won major championship titles this year.”

Welsh bands are also amongst the favourites to add further titles at the National Finals at Cheltenham and the Royal Albert Hall in London in the next few weeks.